The Thompsons Life Impact Team is dedicated to helping you seek justice through the civil courts if you have suffered abuse, whether that's physical, mental, sexual abuse or neglect. Every member of the team is specially trained and we use a trauma-informed approach to communicate and support you.
The team is highly experienced and has represented claimants seeking justice against religious organisations, sports clubs, schools, children's homes, membership organisations, local authorities and individuals.
Contacting a solicitor to start a civil claim for abuse may be a very difficult step for you and we would like to reassure you that your claim, your privacy and, above all, your well-being is of paramount importance to us. If you decide to go ahead with a claim, and you will be under no-obligation to do so, our approach puts you at the centre of your case and we will only ever proceed if you are entirely happy.
The Life Impact Team
Laura Connor – Partner and Head of the Life Impact Team
I have the privilege of leading the Thompsons' Life Impact Team in our work with survivors of historical abuse. My clients come from a variety of backgrounds and are survivors of abuse experienced in state care, private care, sports clubs and religious groups, to name just a few. Many have also suffered abuse in their own homes. The abuse varies in each case from physical, sexual to psychological abuse and neglect.
I have many years of experience in pursuing civil claims through our Scottish courts and CICA tribunals and am an Accredited Personal Injury Specialist Lawyer by the Law of Society of Scotland. I am now able to use my knowledge of the law and our legal system, coupled with my legal knowledge and litigation skills, to help survivors secure justice and support them in having their voices heard.
Along with my colleagues in the team, I have received specialist training to allow me to assist survivors in a trauma-informed way, an approach which is not widely familiar to lawyers. I work collaboratively with clients and provide trauma-informed approaches to the pursuance of civil claims.
Our team also works alongside Wellbeing Scotland to offer counselling support to any clients who wish to benefit from this.
Survivors’ claims for compensation will normally be dealt with through our civil court justice system or an application for compensation to the CICA (Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority).
I am a notary public and member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
Amy Gannon – Partner, specialising in the Life Impact Team
I am a specialist in personal injury litigation with over 13 years’ experience, focusing on high value traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and amputation cases. I handle a wide range of claims, including road traffic, employers’ liability, and occupiers’ liability cases, and have extensive experience litigating in the Court of Session, the National Personal Injury Court, and Sheriff Courts.
Accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a Specialist in Personal Injury Law and by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers as a Senior Litigator, I am also certified as a Trauma-Informed Lawyer and in Legal Technology. As a Tutor for the CLT Reparation Course at CLT Scotland, I share my expertise with future legal professionals.
I am part of the firm’s Life Impact Team, pursuing justice for survivors of historical abuse, individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries, and families affected by fatal accidents. My trauma-informed approach ensures clients receive tailored legal support that addresses both the legal and emotional complexities of their experiences.
Stephanie Young - Solicitor
I began working for Thompsons Solicitors Scotland as a student and took my traineeship with the firm once I achieved my Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. I initially working within the Accident Team.
Having worked on a number of mass litigation court actions, in which I assisted groups of clients who had suffered injury to progress their cases through the courts, I have also worked with clients who were designated as core participants in a Public Inquiry in Scotland. Very specific rules apply in this type of hearing and I provided support and guidance for my clients, keeping them fully updated on the progression of the enquiry at all times.
As a specialist litigation solicitor, I am now working with the Life Impact Team. I provide a compassionate, client-centred approach and am committed to securing justice for my clients who were abused while in a number of institutions across Scotland.
Emma Wheelhouse – Solicitor
After working in a number of litigation firms, I joined Thompsons in January 2018 as part of the Mass Litigation team. I commenced my traineeship within the Life Impact Team in August 2018.
I work as a part of a close-knit team which works exclusively on survivor cases dedicated to obtaining justice for our clients. We are pursuing cases from a wide variety of institutions across Scotland.
As a team, we work with Wellbeing Scotland, a counselling service that specialises in supporting survivors of historical abuse. Through working with Wellbeing Scotland, we are able to go one step further in ensuring that our clients are treated with care and compassion.
As part of the Take Justice campaign, I attend campaigning events to continue to raise awareness of historical child abuse and to encourage more survivors to come forward.
I am passionate and committed to ensuring that the needs of our clients are always met. I look forward to continuing to pursue justice for those that have been affected by childhood abuse.’
Grant Beveridge – Solicitor
I graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2016 with a degree in Politics and International Relations. Before starting my legal career, I worked in the medical device industry. I then studied the Graduate Entry LLB at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 2020, and completed my Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in 2021.
I first joined Thompsons Solicitors in the summer of 2019, and returned in 2021 as a Trainee Solicitor. I was drawn to Thompsons because of the firm’s strong commitment to representing individuals and its long-standing history of campaigning for clients’ rights.
I began my traineeship in the Road Traffic Accident Team, working on high-value fatal and catastrophic injury cases, before moving to the Life Impact Team where I qualified as a Solicitor.
I now work in a specialist team handling complex and sensitive cases, including claims arising from historic child abuse and catastrophic or fatal accidents. I have experience pursuing both pre-litigated and litigated cases, many of which proceed to the Court of Session and the All-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
My approach is trauma-informed and empathetic, with a strong commitment to securing justice for my clients.
Talk to Thompsons, today
The Thompsons Life Impact Team works closely with campaign groups and support charities to provide a holistic service to our clients. We are committed, dedicated and passionate about ensuring anyone who has been abused is able to receive the help and support, and ultimately the justice, they need.
From start to finish, we will put you at the centre of your compensation claim and we will always move forward at the pace which suits you. You can find out more about how we will work with you in your claim on our historic abuse claims process page.
You can talk to a member of the Thompsons team by calling 0800 0891 331. Alternatively, you could fill in a contact form so that we can call you back at a time to suit you – click on the 'Contact us' button below.
